Calling out DEA about stance on CBD and hemp, big dreams in Las Vegas, Maryland MMJ shakeup, patent puzzle & more

July 7: Calling out DEA about stance on CBD and hemp, big dreams in Las Vegas, Maryland MMJ shakeup, patent puzzle & more Cannabist]( [thecannabist.co]( | [@cannabist]( | [fb/cannabist]( If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to sign up yourself, just go here: [(. To view this on the web or share a link, [click here.]( A tractor is used to harvest hemp at a University of Kentucky research plot. (Associated Press file) [Op-ed: DEA position statement on CBD, hemp and Farm Bill “reckless and illegal”]( "In response to [The Cannabist's ongoing reporting on cannabidiol (CBD)](, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration this week released a reckless opinion [statement]( that not only contradicts federal law -- its very issuance is also illegal," writes Joel Stanley, the CEO of CW Hemp, maker of the trademarked hemp extract Charlotte's Web. "The DEA does not make laws, and the agency's position is merely an opinion, one that, in this case, is actually illegal to enforce. But the statement itself violates the expressed intent of Congress." [The pot patent puzzle: Analyzing the ironies of federal marijuana prohibition]( It’s hard to make sense of cannabis regulation, writes Craig Nard for The Conversation. As a professor who researches and teaches in the area of patent law, I have been monitoring how private companies are quietly securing these patents on cannabis-based products and methods of production, even though marijuana remains a Schedule I drug. An even richer irony is that the government itself has patented a method of “administering a therapeutically effective amount of a cannabinoids.” This engagement with the patent system raises several interesting questions. Eye on Nevada's rec rollout [“Amsterdam on steroids”: Las Vegas dreams big in new era of legal marijuana]( Sin City welcomes recreational marijuana sales with parties, prodigious projections and local marijuana hero and state Sen. Tick Segerblom saying: “This is the entertainment capital of the world. ... We’re going to be like Amsterdam on steroids.” He envisions marijuana nightclubs adjacent to casinos; cafes attached to dispensaries; permits for concert venues, parks and hotels; and even a dedicated street for cannabis businesses. + [Will weed light new fire for Nevada tourism? State agency wants to find out]( + [Pot shops under close watch by authorities all pass the test]( Regional News [Florida just got sued over its ban on smokable medical marijuana]( The trial lawyer who led the effort to allow marijuana for medical uses in Florida filed a lawsuit Thursday against the state’s decision to ban smokable forms of the plant. Lawyer and MMJ advocate John Morgan had some choice words for Florida lawmakers too: “Do we give a rat’s ass if a person dying from ALS smokes instead of vapes? I don’t, and I trust the doctors to figure out what’s best for that patient, not (Rep.) Ray Rodrigues.” --------------------------------------------------------------- [Maryland gov revamps embattled agency that regulates medical marijuana]( Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday overhauled the state’s medical marijuana regulating agency, appointing 10 new members to the panel, which came under fire for its launch of a medical cannabis program. The appointees to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission include a toxicologist, a pharmacist, a county sheriff and a county state’s attorney. [Related: Maryland finally has a medical marijuana dispensary — but shelves are empty]( Lifestyle [This ice cream float is an elevated summer treat]( No need to make your own cannabutter: Pick up some edibles at your local marijuana shop to create this cool concoction. Getting ready for 710 Day [Cannabist Show: He created a new kind of cannabis extracts competition]( In this week's episode, featured guest Gabe Fairorth gets into dabbing details with host Jake Browne. The pro grower recalls the first time he tried concentrates a few years ago ("the worst experience I've ever had") and the rapid evolution of extracts since then. He also talks about the Clementine Challenge, which puts the judging in the hands of consumers, not just industry insiders. + [For the uninitiated: five essentials for dabbing]( + [Extracts expert: You should dab for the flavor, not the intense high]( You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up at The Denver Post. Please add "members@mail.denverpost.com" and "members@direct.denverpost.com" to your trusted senders list. To unsubscribe from this mailing, [click here.]( To change your e-mail preferences, [click here](. To view this newsletter on the web [click here.]( The Denver Post 101 West Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80202